"I don't see what the problem is." Ainsley called from the bathroom. "We've done this for the past five years."

"And every year it gets more and more ridiculous." Sam muttered, fumbling with his tie. "I don't understand why they have to make a holiday out of it."

"Sam, it may be because you're the President of the United States." Ainsley walked over to Sam and turned him around, helping him with the tie. "But then again it's just a hunch. I'm not exactly positive."

"You're so funny. I don't want it to be a big deal."

"Oh Christ. Sam, it's your birthday and you're the President. Everyone is going to make a big deal out of it."

"I don't want it to be my birthday."

"Stop being a baby."

The door opened and Gracie walked in, a necklace and bracelet in her hand.

"I need help." she said.

"You know, they don't want to celebrate my birthday." Sam said as Ainsley tended to their daughter. "People take tonight to their advantage to talk about things that I could care less about or to piss me off."

"You realize as he gets older, he gets more neurotic." Gracie said. Ainsley just nodded and Sam glared at them.

----------------------TWW---------------

"People will wonder why I'm not drinking." Ainsley said quietly as she and Sam walked through the crowd of people.

"I'll say you're a crazy drunk and I don't deserve to deal with such a person on my birthday." he teased. Sam glanced down at Ainsley and gave her a smile. "Where'd Gracie run off to?"

"Probably hiding in the kitchens."

"Wish I could do that."

"Hey." Josh appeared at Sam's side and clapped him on the shoulder. "Happy Birthday."

"Thanks Josh."

"Hey Ainsley. You look good."

"You mean that?" she asked.

"Yeah." Josh nodded. "I've lost Donna and Senator Hawthorne has been up my ass most of the night."

"Why?" Sam asked.

"He says he wants to talk to you about something and has been hanging around me, hoping I'd lead him to you."

"So why are you over here?"

"I lost him in the crowd. But if he comes over, just ignore him."

"What does he want?"

"He won't tell me." Josh said. "Oh, I saw your father."

"Great. Where?"

"Over by the bar."

"Of course."

"Olivia's with him."

"I kinda figured. Have you seen Sarah at all?"

"No." Josh shook his head and Sam nodded. "She's probably around somewhere. Ainsley, I saw your mother."

"Keep her away from me." Sam said, turning to his wife. "This is already turning out bad, don't make it worse."

"Hopefully she'll stay away from me too." Ainsley said.

"Mr. President!"

"Here he comes." Josh muttered as a tall, gray-haired man walked over.

"Hello Steven." Sam greeted.

"Happy Birthday sir."

"Thank you. You know my wife," Sam gestured to Ainsley, who smiled.

"Yes." Hawthorne smiled back. "Good evening Mrs. Seaborn."

"Good evening Senator."

"Dad," Gracie showed up and paused. "Sorry, didn't know you were speaking with someone."

"It's okay. Gracie, you know Senator Hawthorne." Sam said.

"Yes. Hi." she said. "I just wanted to tell you that I ran into Grandpa and he's looking for you."

"I've already heard but thanks."

"Okay. Hey can I get a drink?"

"Are you twenty-one?"

"No."

"Then dream on." Sam said. Gracie began to walk away and Sam called her back. "And if I see you with one, you better watch out."

Gracie smiled sweetly and disappeared into the crowd. Sam sighed and turned back to Hawthorne.

"Sorry about that."

"It's okay."

"Okay. The Vice President said you wanted to speak with me." Sam said.

"Yes. Mr. President, I would like you to speak with a friend of mine. His name is Rob Dawson." Hawthorne said. "He would like money to be funded for his organization."

"Hold on. Isn't Rob Dawson the one that's trying to get money to research the supposed myths of the United States?"

"You're familiar with him then."

Sam and Ainsley looked at each other and Ainsley plastered a smile onto her face.

"I'm going to go look for my mother. I'll meet up with you later in the night honey."

"Okay." Sam leaned down and kissed Ainsley's cheek, then murmured in her ear, "This is what I was talking about."

She smiled and walked away.

"She looks good." Hawthorne said.

"Yeah. Steve, listen..."

"Mr. President, he takes this seriously."

"And you figured since you hold some power you'd come here and make my day by asking me to fund money to find Bigfoot?"

"It sounds ridiculous, I know." Hawthorne began.

"Then why the hell did you ask me?" Sam exclaimed as he saw his father. "Excuse me."

"Of course."

Sam walked away and headed straight towards his father.

"Take a walk with me." he said, clamping a hand onto James's arm.

"Hello to you too."

"I don't want to make a scene in front of the press." Sam led his father out to the portico where he finally turned to him. "What are you doing here?"

"It's your birthday. Of course I'm going to be here."

"No. No don't pull that with me."

"Sam, it's not that hard to believe." James said.

"You think that you can just make up the past sixteen years in a couple of months? Actually, the past forty-eight?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh come on. You were never around when I was a kid. You were either at work or with your damn mistress, even though we didn't know it."

"That's not true."

"Yes it is. You were never there. You never cared. You acted like it but you know you didn't."

James sighed and stared at his son.

"You honestly think that? You think that I don't care about you? That I don't love you?"

Sam backed up slightly and froze. Hadn't he just had this conversation with his own kid? Was Gracie like him? Or was he like his father?

"Sam, I know I messed up but that does not mean that I don't care about you." James reached into his jacket and pulled out a white envelope, then held it out to Sam. "Happy Birthday."

Sam took it and nodded, not trusting his voice at the moment. James turned quickly and headed through a door back into the party. Sam let out a sigh and slowly went back into the White House. He quickly made his way through the crowd, giving a few smiles and hellos to some people, then dashed out the door to the Residence. Making his way towards his personal study, Sam was relieved when he finally reached the room and closed the door quietly behind him. He sat down behind his desk and grabbed a letter opener, then pulled the card out once he had slit the envelope. Sam slowly read his father's handwriting and once he was done, tossed the card onto his desk and buried his head in his hands. He heard the door open but didn't look up.

"Sam,"

"What?"

"Bridget said she saw you run up here. You okay?" Ainsley asked, walking over to him.

"Yeah. I'm fine." Sam muttered. Ainsley rested her hands on his shoulders and kissed the top of his head.

"What's that?"

Sam didn't need to ask what 'that' was.

"From my father."

"Oh. You talked to him then."

"Yeah. Ainse, I don't know what to do."

"Don't worry about it right now." she said. "You have to get back downstairs. Josh is ordering everyone to sing Happy Birthday to you."

"I'm staying up here."

"Don't be a sourpuss. Let him have his fun, do a little toast, eat some cake and then you can come up here and sulk. Come back downstairs."

"Fine."

"And act happy."

-----------------------TWW------------------

"Ainsley!"

She turned around and put a smile on as her mother walked up to her.

"It's a fabulous party." Emily said.

"Oh well thank you. I had nothing to do with it really." Ainsley smiled. "Did you have a good trip?"

"Yes I did."

"Why are you out here?"

"I was speaking with Gracie and she said you had left the room. I figured this would be the only time that I would be able to see you." Emily explained, linking an arm through her daughter's. "That's a beautiful dress."

"Thank you."

"You've put on weight though."

Ainsley held back a sigh and nodded.

"That's usually what happens when you're pregnant."

"You're pregnant?"

"Yeah. Three months."

"Well. Congratulations I guess." Emily said. "And I assume it is Sam's."

"Mother!" Ainsley hissed. "Of course it is!"

"Oh. I thought it might have been the Vice President's."

"Oh God! That was a false story."

"There is nothing to be ashamed of Ainsley. Everyone has affairs."

"I did not have an affair." she said. "Please do not get me upset tonight."

"Right. You don't want to have another accident."

"Mom."

"That's right, you don't like talking about it."

"Why are you doing this?" Ainsley asked quietly.

"Doing what?" Emily asked. "I'm just talking."

"About things you know I hate to talk about." Ainsley glanced behind her when she heard footsteps and saw Sam coming down the stairs. "It's a touchy subject and you know that."

"Fine. Excuse me for talking."

"Hi." Sam greeted and Emily put on a fake smile.

"Happy Birthday."

"Thanks. What are we talking about?"

"Nothing." Ainsley gave Sam a look as he wrapped an arm around her waist. "Go back to the party. I'll be right in."

Sam looked at her and she gave a small nod, making him let out a sigh but he nodded and kissed her forehead before turning around and disappearing through a door.

"It's horrible around Ryan." Emily said. Ainsley gave her an incredulous look. "I mean, he was such a good man and now he's dead."

"Mother, he tried killing your granddaughter and me, not to mention the President."

"Well Sam's not really a loss."

"You better watch what you say. The Secret Service will come and try and kill you if you keep saying things like that." Ainsley said. "Besides, I don't tolerate it."

"He's nothing really special Ainsley. Ryan was..."

"Ryan was a psychopath and we're not having this conversation. Thank you for coming even though I know what your real motives were." she said, turning on her heel.